The Taupo Times District Youth Awards recognise excellence in the young people of our town. Iris Riddell caught up with the past three winners of the overall achiever award on study break to find out what they have been up to.

A late 19th century kakahu (Maori cloak), and paintings by the late Ralph Hotere, and John Weeks and Margaret Stoddart are just some of the stunning art and artefacts expected to attract significant interest at the Lake Taupo Hospice fundraising art auction and sale in Taupo later this month.

Rat trapping in the bush may not be everyone's cup of tea but when Russell and Lizzie Shaw were talked into it by Pukawa Wildlife Management Trust secretary Jean Stanley, they discovered they were natural-born killers.

Taupo District Council plans to sell the car park on Tuwharetoa St to reduce debt and connect the central business district with the lakefront, but local business owners are concerned the removal of parks may push people out of the town centre.

Nominations have been trickling in for the Taupo District Council 2013 elections. At the time of writing, just 24 hours before nominations close, there were some new names mixed with the more familiar.

Great Lakes Tales gets a bit more awesome with Jimi Hunt, whose exploits include rafting down the Waikato River on a lilo and founding a charity to help others fight depression. Iris Riddell caught up with him to find out more.

Playing a musical instrument isn't everyones cup of tea, but for Taupo-nui-a- Tia's Louisa Williamson it's her bread and butter. The 16-year-old was recently selected for the New Zealand Youth Jazz Orchestra to perform in several shows across the country.